wfn.org | Roman Catholics and Lutherans Sign "Justification"

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

Declaration

November 2, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Germany: Roman Catholics and Lutherans Sign "Justification" 
Declaration

Augsburg, Germany (APD)  Representatives of the Roman 
Catholic and Lutheran Churches signed an agreement on the 
doctrine of justification during a celebration held in 
Augsburg, Germany, on October 31.

The document, entitled "A Joint Declaration on the Doctrine 
of Justification," aims to heal the difference in 
understanding that precipitated the Protestant Reformation 
in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the 
church door in Wittenberg.

The agreement has been hailed as a bridge across the rift 
that has divided Christians on the basis by which salvation 
is achieved. However, some still question whether both 
Churches are actually in agreement on the subject, and it is 
acknowledged by both parties signing the document that 
differences remain.

"The document is a consensus document with all the 
strengths and weaknesses such a document has by its 
nature," comments Ekkehardt Mueller, associate director of 
the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Biblical Research 
Institute. "In some cases, remarkable progress seems to 
have taken place. In other cases, one still feels 
differences, for example, with regard to the understanding 
of sin. Some of these differences are openly acknowledged. 
Sometimes, it seems that words have been redefined, for 
example, when it comes to meritorious works. Questions 
as to how, for example, Mariology, indulgences, and 
other doctrines and practices influence the understanding 
of justification by faith are not addressed. One has to 
wait and see how this joint declaration will shape not 
just the theology but also the practice of these two 
Christian World Communions."

During the celebratory service in Augsburg, Bishop 
Christian Krause, president of the Lutheran World 
Federation, spoke of the agreement's importance, while 
Pope John Paul II called the declaration a "milestone" 
in ecumenical development.

"Seventh-day Adventists applaud every effort to study the 
Word of God, especially its doctrine of justification, and 
to come to a fuller understanding of  this biblical 
teaching," says Mueller. "Adventists not only confirm 
the sola scriptura principle with regard to salvation, 
they also stress sola gratia and sola fide. At the same 
time they confess that justification by grace through 
faith is a doctrine, which in every church needs 
continuous exploration and application to the life of its 
community."